Mr. Thomas was born in DeKalb County, Alabama on May 1, 1935, the son of the late Troy Thomas and Nellie Mae Steed Akins. He was a veteran having served in the United States Army, had worked at Douglas and Lomason and later retired from Yother Construction as Superintendant. He was a member of Carroll Masonic Lodge #69 F&AM and Antioch Baptist Church on Highway 5 in Whitesburg Georgia.

T.L. was a jack-of-all trades, enjoying working on all types of equipment from small engines to heavy equipment. He loved to stay busy at all times, enjoying fishing, golfing, woodworking, camping, gardening and leather crafting, where he made leather bible covers for many in his church. T.L. was a loving husband, father, and Paw Paw Thomas.